Set of panels for an assembled product

ABSTRACT

A set of panels including a first panel with a first main plane and a second panel with a second main plane. A first edge of the first panel is configured to be locked to a second edge of the second panel, wherein the first main plane is essentially perpendicular to the second main plane, and wherein the first and the second edges are locked in a first direction, which is perpendicular to the first main plane, and a second direction, which is perpendicular to the second main plane. The first edge includes an edge tongue, with a longitudinal direction along the first edge, including a bottom edge, a first surface and an opposite second surface. The edge groove and/or the edge tongue is/are configured such that a greater force is absorbed by the longitudinal central part than by an edge part at third and fourth edges.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of Swedish Application No.1650135-5, filed on Feb. 4, 2017. The entire contents of SwedishApplication No. 1650135-5 are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to panels that areconfigured such that may be arranged perpendicular to each other andlocked together. The panels may be assembled and locked together toobtain a furniture product, such as a bookshelf, a cupboard, a wardrobe,a box, a drawer or a furniture component. The locking may comprise aflexible tongue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional furniture product may be assembled by a plurality ofelements or panels. The panels may be assembled with a mechanicallocking system, such as disclosed in, for example, WO 2012/154113 A1.The product comprises a first panel connected perpendicularly to asecond panel by a mechanical locking system comprising, an edge tongueat the first panel, an edge groove at the second panel and a flexibletongue in an insertion groove.

In some situations, it may be desired to disassemble or dismantle theproduct after it has been assembled. WO 2015/038059 discloses a productassembled by a plurality of panels that are locked by a mechanicallocking system comprising a flexible tongue in an insertion groove. Themechanical locking system may be unlocked by a dismantling tool, whichpushes the flexible tongue into the insertion groove, which facilitatesdismantling of the panels.

The panels are generally produced in a continuous production process,comprising a number of milling tools. The edge groove is for productionreasons preferably extending contiguously from a front edge to a backedge of the second panel. An opening of the edge groove at the frontedge may be covered by, e.g., a strip. The edge groove may have anopening at the back edge and a dismantling tool may be inserted throughthe opening. The opening at the back edge may also have the advantagethat the first and the second panel may be assembled or disassembled bydisplacing the edge tongue relative the edge groove.

Embodiments of the present invention address a need to provide a lockingwith increased strength, particularly at a back edge comprising theopening of edge groove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention preferably seek tomitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more deficiencies, disadvantagesor issues in the art, such as the above-identified, singly or in anycombination by providing a set of panels, shaped and configured to belocked together, wherein a greater force is absorbed by a central partthan an edge part when a load applied to the first and/or the secondpanel.

A further object of embodiments of the invention is to provide afurniture product with increased strength and stability.

At least some of these and other objects and advantages that will beapparent from the description have been achieved by a set of panelscomprising a first panel with a first main plane and a second panel witha second main plane. A first edge of the first panel is configured to belocked to a second edge of the second panel, wherein the first mainplane is essentially perpendicular to the second main plane, and whereinthe first and the second edges are locked in a first direction, which isperpendicular to the first main plane, and a second direction, which isperpendicular to the second main plane. The first edge comprises an edgetongue, with a longitudinal direction along the first edge, comprising abottom edge, a first surface and an opposite second surface. The secondedge comprises an edge groove, with a longitudinal direction along thesecond edge, comprising a bottom, a first surface and an opposite secondsurface. The edge tongue is configured to cooperate with the edge groovefor locking together the first and the second edges in the firstdirection. The first surface of the edge tongue is configured tocooperate, at a longitudinal central part of the first edge and thesecond edge, with the first surface of the edge groove for said lockingin the first direction. The first panel comprises a third edge which isadjacent to the first edge and the second panel comprises a fourth edgewhich is adjacent to the second edge. The edge groove is extending tothe fourth edge. An opening of the edge groove at the fourth edge mayhave the disadvantage that a crack arises, at the fourth edge at anouter lower part of the edge groove when the load is applied. The edgegroove and/or the edge tongue is/are configured such that a greaterforce is absorbed by the longitudinal central part than by an edge partof the first edge and the second edge at the third and fourth edges,when a load is applied to the first and/or the second panel, such thatthe arising of the crack may be prevented and to improve the strength ofthe locking.

The edge groove may have a first groove shape at the edge part and asecond groove shape at the longitudinal central.

The edge tongue may have a first tongue shape at the edge part and asecond tongue shape at the longitudinal central.

The edge part may have a longitudinal length in the range of about 5 mmto about to about 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm, in the longitudinaldirection of the edge groove.

A third surface of the edge tongue may be configured to be at adistance, at said edge part, from a third surface of the edge groove, ina locked position of the first and the second edges. The distance ispreferably in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm. The third surface of the edge tongue may be at asame position, in the second direction, and on a same side of the edgetongue as the first surface of the edge tongue. The third surface of theedge groove may be at a same position, in the second direction, and on asame side of the edge groove as the first surface of the edge groove.

A first thickness of the edge tongue, at the longitudinal central partand at the first surface of the edge tongue, may be greater than asecond thickness of the edge tongue. The second thickness may be at theedge part and at a same position, in the second direction, as the firstthickness. The difference between the first thickness and the secondthickness is preferably in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm,preferably about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm.

A first width of the edge groove, at the edge part, may be greater thana second width of the edge groove, at the longitudinal central part. Thesecond width may be at the first surface of the edge groove and thefirst width may be at a same position, in the second direction, as thesecond width. The difference between the first width and the secondwidth is preferably in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm,preferably about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm.

A second distance, which is between the bottom edge and the bottom andat the edge part, may be greater than a first distance, which may bebetween the bottom edge and the bottom and at the longitudinal centralpart, in a locked position of the first and the second edges.

The edge tongue may extend over the longitudinal central part and mayend before the edge part.

The first surface of the edge tongue and the first surface of edgegroove are preferably closer to an outer corner of the first and thesecond edges, in a locked position of the first and the second edges,than the second surface of the edge tongue and the second surface of theedge groove.

The edge tongue may comprise a tongue groove and the edge groove maycomprise a tongue. Said tongue may be configured to cooperate with saidtongue groove for locking together the first and the second edges in thesecond direction.

The tongue may be flexible tongue arranged in an insertion groove.

The flexible tongue is preferably displaceable in the insertion groove.

The insertion groove may extend along essentially the entire length ofthe edge groove.

The edge groove may extend along essentially the entire length of thesecond edge.

A core material of the first and the second panel may comprise a woodfibre based board, such as a HDF, MDF, plywood, solid wood orparticleboard, or a reinforced plastic board or a wood fibre compositeboard.

The core may be provided with a decorative layer.

The third and the fourth edges may be back edges, such as back edges ofa furniture product.

The first edge and the second edge may have a second edge part oppositethe edge part. The second edge part may have the same groove shape,and/or same the same tongue shape as the longitudinal central part

A second aspect of the invention is a furniture product comprising theset of panels, according to the first aspect. The set of panels may be apart of a frame of the furniture product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments ofthe invention are capable of, will be apparent and elucidated from thefollowing description of embodiments of the present invention, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1A shows a 3D-view of an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 1B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG. 1A

FIG. 2A shows a 3D-view of an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 2B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG. 2A

FIG. 3A shows a 3D-view of an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 3B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG. 3A

FIG. 4A shows crosscut of an embodiment of the longitudinal central partof an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 4B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG. 4A

FIG. 5A shows the enlargement in FIG. 4A without the edge tongue

FIG. 5B shows the enlargement in FIG. 4A without the edge groove

FIG. 6A-6B show embodiments of the edge part in a side view of anembodiment of the invention

FIGS. 7A-7B show embodiments of the edge part in a side view of anembodiment of the invention

FIGS. 8A-8F show a part of the invention comprising an embodiment of theflexible tongue.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Theterminology used in the detailed description of the embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limitingof the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Embodiments are shown that may decrease the risk that a crack arises atjoined portions of a first and a second panel.

Embodiments of the invention shown in FIG. 1A-7B comprise a set ofpanels comprising a first panel 4 with a first main plane and a secondpanel 2 with a second main plane. A first edge of the first panel isconfigured to be locked to a second edge of the second panel, whereinthe first main plane is essentially perpendicular to the second mainplane, and wherein the first and the second edges are locked in a firstdirection D1, which is perpendicular to the first main plane, and asecond direction D2, which is perpendicular to the second main plane.The first edge comprises an edge tongue 22, with a longitudinaldirection along the first edge, comprising a bottom edge 45, a firstsurface 43 and an opposite second surface 41. The second edge comprisesan edge groove 21, with a longitudinal direction along the second edge,comprising a bottom 44, a first surface 42 and an opposite secondsurface 40. The edge tongue 22 is configured to cooperate with the edgegroove 21 for locking together the first and the second edges in thefirst direction D1. The first surface 43 of the edge tongue 22 isconfigured to cooperate, at a longitudinal central part, with the firstsurface 42 of the edge groove 21 for said locking in the first directionD1. The first panel 4 comprises a third edge 65 which is adjacent to thefirst edge and the second panel 2 comprises a fourth edge 64 which isadjacent to the second edge. The edge groove 21 extends to the fourthedge 64. The edge groove 21 and/or the edge tongue 22 is/are configuredsuch that a greater force is absorbed by the longitudinal central part61 than by an edge part 62 at the third and fourth edges 63,64, when aload 58 is applied to the first and/or the second panel 4,2. The thirdand the fourth edges 63,64 may be back edges, such as back edges of afurniture product.

FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of the edge groove which at the edge part 62has a first groove shape and the longitudinal central part 61 has asecond groove shape. The first groove shape comprises a width which iswider than a width of the second groove shape, at a correspondingposition. The first edge and the second edge may have a second edge part66 opposite the edge part 62. The second edge part 66 may have the samegroove shape, and/or same the same tongue shape as the longitudinalcentral part 61. FIG. 1B shows an enlargement of the encircled area inFIG. 1A. The edge groove may be formed by displacing a milling toolalong the second edge and displacing the milling tool in the firstdirection at the wider edge part. The edge tongue may have uniform shapein a longitudinal direction of the edge tongue. The edge part may have alongitudinal length in the range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm,preferably about 20 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the edgegroove.

FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of the edge tongue which is extending overlongitudinal central part 61 and ends before the edge part 62. FIG. 2Bshows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG. 2A. The edge tonguemay be formed by displacing a milling tool along the first edge anddisplacing the milling tool in the first direction at the edge part. Theedge part may have a longitudinal length in the range of about 5 mm toabout 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm, in the longitudinal direction ofthe edge tongue.

A second edge part 66, opposite the edge part 62, may have a shapedifferent from the longitudinal central part 61 and the edge part 62.For example, the tongue shape, in the second edge part 66 may beessentially the same as the tongue shape in the edge part 62. However,the groove shape in the second edge part 66 may be different from thegroove shape of either the longitudinal central part 61 or the edge part62. For example, the groove in the second edge part 66 may not extent tothe end of the edge. For example, the end of the groove may be about 5mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm from the end of the secondedge.

FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of the edge tongue which at the edge part 62has a first tongue shape and at the longitudinal central part 61 has asecond tongue shape. The first tongue shape has a thickness which isthinner than a thickness of the second tongue shape, at a correspondingposition. A second edge part 66, opposite the edge part 62, may have thesame groove shape, and/or same the same tongue shape as the longitudinalcentral part 61. FIG. 3B shows an enlargement of the encircled area inFIG. 3A. The edge tongue may be formed by displacing a milling toolalong the first edge and displacing the milling tool in the firstdirection at the thinner edge part. The edge groove may have a uniformgroove shape in a longitudinal direction of the edge tongue. The edgepart may have a longitudinal length in the range of about 5 mm to about50 mm, preferably about 20 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the edgetongue.

Embodiments of the invention may provide advantage particularly forembodiments of the second panel comprising a core comprising fibresarranged essentially parallel to the second main plane. Such a secondpanel involves increased risk that a crack arises.

FIG. 4A shows a crosscut of an embodiment of the longitudinal centralpart 61 comprising the first panel 4 and the second panel 2 in a lockedposition. FIG. 4B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG. 4A.The first surface 43 of the edge tongue 22 and the first surface 42 ofedge groove are closer to an outer corner 63 of the first and the secondedges, than the second surface 41 of the edge tongue 22 and the secondsurface 40 of the edge groove 21. The bottom edge 45 and the bottom 44are positioned at a first distance 50 from each other. FIG. 4B showsthat the first surface 43 of the edge tongue 22 cooperates with thefirst surface 42 of the edge groove 21 for said locking in the firstdirection D1. The second surface 41 of the edge tongue 22 preferablycooperates with the second surface 40 of the edge groove 21 for alocking in the first direction D1. The greatest risk for a crack may beat a lower part 67 of the edge groove when a load 58, 58′, 58″ isapplied to the first and/or second panel. The crack is more likely toarise at the fourth edge 64. The crack may thereafter propagate alongthe second edge. By lowering the load on the edge part of edge grooveand the edge tongue an initiation of a crack may be prevented.

The edge tongue 22 may comprise a tongue groove 10 and the edge groove21 comprises a tongue 30, said tongue is configured to cooperate withsaid tongue groove 10 for locking together the first and the secondedges in the second direction D2.

The tongue is preferably a flexible tongue 30 which may be arranged inan insertion groove 20.

The insertion groove may 20 extend along essentially the entire lengthof the edge groove 21.

The flexible tongue 30 is preferably displaceable in the insertiongroove 20.

The edge groove 21 may extend along essentially the entire length of thesecond edge.

FIG. 5A shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG. 4A withoutthe edge tongue. The embodiment comprises a second width 51 of the edgegroove 21, at the longitudinal central part 61, at the first surface 42of the edge groove 21.

FIG. 5B shows an enlargement of the encircled area in FIG. 4A withoutthe edge groove. The embodiment comprises a first thickness 52 of theedge tongue 22, at the longitudinal central part and at the firstsurface 43 of the edge tongue 22.

An embodiment of the edge part 62 is shown in a crosscut in FIG. 6A. Theembodiment comprises a second thickness 54 of the edge tongue 22 at theedge part and at a same position, in the second direction D2, as thefirst thickness 52, see FIG. 5B. The first thickness is greater than thesecond thickness. The difference between the first thickness 52 and thesecond thickness 54 is preferably in the range of about 0.2 mm to about2 mm, preferably about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm.

An embodiment of the edge part 62 is shown in a crosscut in FIG. 6B. Theembodiment comprises a first width 53 of the edge groove 21, at the edgepart 62. The first width 53 is greater than the second width 51 of theedge groove 21, at the longitudinal central part 61, see FIG. 5A. Thefirst width 53 is at a same position, in the second direction D2, as thesecond width 51. The difference between the first width 53 and thesecond width 51 is may be in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm,preferably about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm.

The embodiments shown in FIG. 6A-6B comprises a third surface 71 of theedge tongue which is configured to be at a distance 55, at said edgepart, from a third surface 72 of the edge groove, in a locked positionof the first and the second edges. The distance is preferably in therange of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0.2 mm to about0.5 mm. The third surface 71 of the edge tongue is at a same position,in the second direction D2, and on a same side of the edge tongue 22 asthe first surface 43 of the edge tongue 22. The third surface 72 of theedge groove 21 is at a same position, in the second direction D2, and ona same side of the edge groove 21 as the first surface 42 of the edgegroove 21.

An embodiment of the edge part 62 is shown in a crosscut in FIG. 7A. Thebottom edge 45 and the bottom 44 are positioned at a second distance 56from each other. The second distance 56 is greater than the firstdistance 50, which is between the bottom edge and the bottom and at thelongitudinal central part 61, see FIG. 4B, in a locked position of thefirst and the second edges.

An embodiment of the edge part 62 is shown in a crosscut in FIG. 7B. Inthis embodiment the edge tongue is removed, preferably by a mechanicalcutting, such as milling.

A core material of embodiments of the first and the second paneldescribed above may comprise a wood fibre based board, such as a HDF,MDF, plywood, solid wood or particleboard, or a reinforced plastic boardor a wood fibre composite board. The core may be provided with adecorative layer

An embodiment of the flexible tongue 30, which is displaceable in aninsertion groove 20, is shown in FIGS. 8A-D. FIGS. 8A-8B show theflexible tongue 30 in a locked portion and FIGS. 8C-8D show the flexibletongue 30 during assembling of the first panel 4 and the second panel 2.FIG. 8B shows a cross section of the flexible tongue 30 in FIG. 8A. FIG.8D shows a cross section of the flexile tongue 30 in FIG. 8C. Theflexible tongue 30 comprises bendable protruding parts 24. A space 23 isprovided between the flexible tongue 30 and a bottom wall of theinsertion groove 20. FIG. 8C shows that the flexible tongue 30 is pushedinto the insertion groove 20 and towards the bottom wall of theinsertion groove 20 during an assembly of the first panel 4 with thesecond panel 2. The flexible tongue 30 springs back toward its initialposition when the first panel 4 and the second panel 8 have reached alocked position. A recess 25 is preferably arranged at each bendableprotruding part.

The flexible tongue 30 may have a first displacement surface 26 and anopposite second displacement surface 27, configured to be displacedalong a third displacement surface 28 and a fourth displacement lockingsurface 29, respectively, of the insertion groove 20.

An alternative embodiment of the flexible tongue 30, without theprotruding bendable parts 24, is shown in FIGS. 8E-8F. FIG. 8F shows across section of the flexible tongue 30 shown in FIG. 8E. Thealternative embodiment is bendable in its length direction in order toaccomplish a similar function as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-8D.

The set of panels described above may be a part of a furniture product,such as a frame.

When the word “about” is used in this specification in connection with anumerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical valueinclude a tolerance of ±10% around the stated numerical value.

Embodiments

1. A set of panels comprising a first panel (4) with a first main planeand a second panel (2) with a second main plane, wherein a first edge ofthe first panel is configured to be locked to a second edge of thesecond panel, wherein the first main plane is essentially perpendicularto the second main plane, and wherein the first and the second edges arelocked in a first direction (D1), which is perpendicular to the firstmain plane, and a second direction (D2), which is perpendicular to thesecond main plane, wherein the first edge comprises an edge tongue (22),with a longitudinal direction along the first edge, comprising a bottomedge (45), a first surface (43) and an opposite second surface (41),wherein the second edge comprises an edge groove (21), with alongitudinal direction along the second edge, comprising a bottom (44),a first surface (42) and an opposite second surface (40), wherein theedge tongue (22) is configured to cooperate with the edge groove (21)for locking together the first and the second edges in the firstdirection (D1), characterized in:

-   -   that the first surface (43) of the edge tongue (22) is        configured to cooperate, at a longitudinal central part of the        first edge and the second edge, with the first surface (42) of        the edge groove (21) for said locking in the first direction        (D1),    -   that the first panel (4) comprises a third edge (65) which is        adjacent to the first edge and the second panel (2) comprises a        fourth edge (64) which is adjacent to the second edge,    -   that the edge groove (21) extends to the fourth edge (64), and    -   that the edge groove (21) and/or the edge tongue (22) is/are        configured such that a greater force is absorbed by the        longitudinal central part (61) than by an edge part (62) of the        first edge and the second edge at the third and fourth edges,        when a load (58) is applied to the first and/or the second panel        (4,2).        2. The set of panels as in embodiment 1, wherein the edge groove        (21) has a first groove shape at the edge part (62) and a second        groove shape at the longitudinal central (61), wherein the first        groove shape is different from the second groove shape.        3. The set of panels as in embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the edge        tongue (22) has a first tongue shape at the edge part (62) and a        second tongue shape at the longitudinal central (61), wherein        the first tongue shape is different from the second tongue        shape.        4. The set of panels as in any one of the embodiments 1-3,        wherein the edge part (62) has a longitudinal length in the        range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm, in        the longitudinal direction of the edge groove.        5. The set of panels as in any one of the embodiments 1-4,        wherein a third surface (71) of the edge tongue is configured to        be at a distance (55), at said edge part, from a third surface        (72) of the edge groove, in a locked position of the first and        the second edges, the distance is preferably in the range of        about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm, preferably about 0.2 mm to about 0.5        mm, wherein the third surface (71) of the edge tongue is at a        same position, in the second direction (D2), and on a same side        of the edge tongue (22) as the first surface (43) of the edge        tongue (22), and wherein the third surface (72) of the edge        groove (21) is at a same position, in the second direction (D2),        and on a same side of the edge groove (21) as the first surface        (42) of the edge groove (21).        6. The set of panels as in any one of the embodiments 1-3,        wherein a first thickness (52) of the edge tongue (22), at the        longitudinal central part and at the first surface (43) of the        edge tongue (22), is greater than a second thickness (54) of the        edge tongue (22), at the edge part and at a same position, in        the second direction (D2), as the first thickness (52), the        difference between the first thickness and the second thickness        is preferably in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm,        preferably about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm.        7. The set of panels as in any one of the embodiments 1-4,        wherein a first width (53) of the edge groove (21), at the edge        part (62), is greater than a second width (51) of the edge        groove (21), at the longitudinal central part (61), wherein the        second width (51) is at the first surface (42) of the edge        groove (21) and the first width (53) is at a same position, in        the second direction (D2), as the second width (51), the        difference between the first width (53) and the second width        (51) is preferably in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm,        preferably about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm.        8. The set of panels as in any one of the embodiments 1-5,        wherein a second distance (56), which is between the bottom edge        (45) and the bottom (44) and at the edge part (62), is greater        than a first distance (50), which is between the bottom edge and        the bottom and at the longitudinal central part (61), in a        locked position of the first and the second edges.        9. The set of panels as in any one of the embodiments 1-2,        wherein edge tongue (22) extends over the longitudinal central        part (61) and ends before the edge part (62).        10. The set of panels as in any one of the embodiments 1-7,        wherein the first surface (43) of the edge tongue (22) and the        first surface (42) of edge groove are closer to an outer corner        (63) of the first and the second edges, in a locked position of        the first and the second edges, than the second surface (41) of        the edge tongue (22) and the second surface (40) of the edge        groove (21).        11. The set of panels as in any one of the embodiments 1-8,        wherein the edge tongue (22) comprises a tongue groove (10) and        the edge groove (21) comprises a tongue (30), said tongue is        configured to cooperate with said tongue groove (10) for locking        together the first and the second edges in the second direction        (D2).        12. The set of panels as in embodiment 9, wherein the tongue is        a flexible tongue (30) arranged in an insertion groove (20)        13. The set of panels as in embodiment 10, wherein the insertion        groove (20) extends along essentially the entire length of the        edge groove (21).        14. The set of panels as in embodiment 10 or 11, wherein the        flexible tongue (30) is displaceable in the insertion groove        (20).        15. The set of panels as in any one of the preceding        embodiments, wherein the edge groove (21) extends along        essentially the entire length of the second edge.        16. The set of panels as in any one of the preceding        embodiments, wherein a core material of the first and the second        panel comprises a wood fibre based board, such as a HDF, MDF,        plywood, solid wood or particleboard, or a reinforced plastic        board or a wood fibre composite board.        17. The set of panels as in embodiment 16, wherein the core is        provided with a decorative layer.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A set of panels comprising a first panelwith a first main plane and a second panel with a second main plane,wherein a first edge of the first panel is configured to be locked to asecond edge of the second panel, wherein the first main plane isessentially perpendicular to the second main plane, and wherein thefirst and the second edges are locked in a first direction, which isperpendicular to the first main plane, and a second direction, which isperpendicular to the second main plane, wherein the first edge comprisesan edge tongue, with a longitudinal direction along the first edge,comprising a bottom edge, a first surface and an opposite secondsurface, wherein the second edge comprises an edge groove, with alongitudinal direction along the second edge, comprising a bottom, afirst surface and an opposite second surface, wherein the edge tongue isconfigured to cooperate with the edge groove for locking together thefirst and the second edges in the first direction, wherein: the firstsurface of the edge tongue is configured to cooperate, at a longitudinalcentral part of the first edge and the second edge, with the firstsurface of the edge groove for said locking in the first direction, thefirst panel comprises a third edge which is adjacent to the first edgeand the second panel comprises a fourth edge which is adjacent to thesecond edge, the edge groove extends to the fourth edge, and the edgegroove and/or the edge tongue is/are configured such that a greaterforce is absorbed by the longitudinal central part than by an edge partof the first edge and the second edge at the third and fourth edges,when a load is applied to the first and/or the second panel.
 2. The setof panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge groove has a firstgroove shape at the edge part and a second groove shape at thelongitudinal central, wherein the first groove shape is different fromthe second groove shape.
 3. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1,wherein the edge tongue has a first tongue shape at the edge part and asecond tongue shape at the longitudinal central, wherein the firsttongue shape is different from the second tongue shape.
 4. The set ofpanels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge part has a longitudinallength in the range of about 5 mm to about 50 mm in the longitudinaldirection of the edge groove.
 5. The set of panels as claimed in claim1, wherein a third surface of the edge tongue is configured to be at adistance, at said edge part, from a third surface of the edge groove, ina locked position of the first and the second edges, wherein the thirdsurface of the edge tongue is at a same position, in the seconddirection, and on a same side of the edge tongue as the first surface ofthe edge tongue, and wherein the third surface of the edge groove is ata same position, in the second direction, and on a same side of the edgegroove as the first surface of the edge groove.
 6. The set of panels asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a first thickness of the edge tongue, at thelongitudinal central part and at the first surface of the edge tongue,is greater than a second thickness of the edge tongue, at the edge partand at a same position, in the second direction, as the first thickness.7. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first width of theedge groove, at the edge part, is greater than a second width of theedge groove, at the longitudinal central part, wherein the second widthis at the first surface of the edge groove and the first width is at asame position, in the second direction, as the second width.
 8. The setof panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second distance, which isbetween the bottom edge and the bottom and at the edge part, is greaterthan a first distance, which is between the bottom edge and the bottomand at the longitudinal central part, in a locked position of the firstand the second edges.
 9. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1,wherein edge tongue extends over the longitudinal central part and endsbefore the edge part.
 10. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1,wherein the first surface of the edge tongue and the first surface ofedge groove are closer to an outer corner of the first and the secondedges, in a locked position of the first and the second edges, than thesecond surface of the edge tongue and the second surface of the edgegroove.
 11. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edgetongue comprises a tongue groove and the edge groove comprises a tongue,said tongue is configured to cooperate with said tongue groove forlocking together the first and the second edges in the second direction.12. The set of panels as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tongue is aflexible tongue arranged in an insertion groove.
 13. The set of panelsas claimed in claim 10, wherein the insertion groove extends alongessentially the entire length of the edge groove.
 14. The set of panelsas claimed in claim 10, wherein the flexible tongue is displaceable inthe insertion groove.
 15. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1,wherein the edge groove extends along essentially the entire length ofthe second edge.
 16. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein acore material of the first and the second panel comprises a wood fibrebased board, such as a HDF, MDF, plywood, solid wood or particleboard,or a reinforced plastic board or a wood fibre composite board.
 17. Theset of panels as claimed in claim 16, wherein the core is provided witha decorative layer.